Well car side assembly

ABSTRACT

A well car includes a well floor, a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first side assembly. The first end is portion coupled to the well floor. The second end portion is coupled to the well floor. The first side assembly is coupled to the well floor. The first side assembly includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions. The first side portion is coupled to the first end portion. The second side portion is coupled to the second end portion. The first humped portion is positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/545,087, entitled “Well Car Side Assembly,” which was filed Aug.14, 2017, having common inventorship, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to configuring a railroad freight car(also referred to as a “railcar”).

BACKGROUND

Railcars are configured to store and transport freight across longdistances. As more freight is placed inside a railcar, the stress placedon the structure of the railcar increases.

SUMMARY

Railcars are configured to store and transport freight across longdistances. For example, railcars may store and transport automobiles,military equipment, livestock, construction equipment, etc. A well caris a type of railcar. A well car includes a well in which freight isloaded for transport.

Laws and regulations limit the weight of a well car and its freightduring transport. The heavier the well car is without freight (alsoreferred to as the tare weight), the less freight it can carry beforehitting the weight limit. Additionally, the structure of the well carmay limit the amount of freight it can carry. For example, the heavierthe freight that is loaded into the well car, the more the the well carmay deflect vertically towards the tracks. Laws and regulations limitthe amount of vertical deflection that can occur during transport.Therefore, the amount of vertical deflection allowed by the structure ofthe well car may limit the amount of freight that the well car cancarry.

This disclosure contemplates an improved well car design that increasesthe amount of freight that the well car can transport. The improveddesign includes structural side assemblies that have an elevated orhumped portion. Certain embodiments are described below.

According to an embodiment, a well car includes a well floor, a firstend portion, a second end portion, and a first side assembly. The firstend is portion coupled to the well floor. The second end portion iscoupled to the well floor. The first side assembly is coupled to thewell floor. The first side assembly includes a first side portion, asecond side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between thefirst and second side portions. The first side portion is coupled to thefirst end portion. The second side portion is coupled to the second endportion. The first humped portion is positioned higher than the firstand second portions on the first side assembly.

According to another embodiment, a method includes coupling a first sideassembly to a well floor of a well car. The first side assembly includesa first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portioncoupled between the first and second side portions. The first sideportion is coupled to a first end portion coupled to the well floor. Thesecond side portion is coupled to a second end portion coupled to thewell floor. The first humped portion is positioned higher than the firstand second portions on the first side assembly.

According to yet another embodiment, a system includes a railcar and awell car. The well car is configured to couple to the railcar. The wellcar includes a well floor, a first end portion coupled to the wellfloor, a second end portion coupled to the well floor, a first sideassembly coupled to the well floor, and a second side assembly coupledto the well floor. The first side assembly includes a first sideportion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupledbetween the first and second side portions. The first side portion iscoupled to the first end portion. The second side portion is coupled tothe second end portion. The first humped portion is positioned higherthan the first and second portions on the first side assembly. Thesecond side assembly includes a third side portion, a fourth sideportion, and a second humped portion coupled between the third andfourth side portions. The third side portion is coupled to the first endportion. The fourth side portion is coupled to the second end portion.The second humped portion is positioned higher than the third and fourthportions on the second side assembly. The second side assembly isparallel to the first side assembly.

Certain embodiments provide one or more technical advantages. Forexample, an embodiment reduces the weight of a well car. As anotherexample, an embodiment reduces the vertical deflection experienced by awell car when transporting freight. Certain embodiments may includenone, some, or all of the above technical advantages. One or more othertechnical advantages may be readily apparent to one skilled in the artfrom the figures, descriptions, and claims included herein

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is nowmade to the following brief description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like referencenumerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example well car;

FIG. 2A illustrates an example well car;

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the well car of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the well car of FIG. 2A;and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of forming the well car ofFIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Railcars are configured to store and transport freight across longdistances. For example, railcars may store and transport automobiles,military equipment, livestock, construction equipment, etc. Thisdisclosure contemplates a railcar that is configured to store andtransport any type of freight. A well car is a type of railcar. A wellcar includes a well that is used to carry freight. FIG. 1 illustrates anexample well car 100. Freight (e.g. shipping containers) is loaded intothe well car, which transports the freight on rails to the destination.

Well car 100 includes side assemblies 105 that form boundaries for thewell of well car 100. Side assemblies 105 include a section called a topchord 110. As seen in FIG. 1, top chord 110 for well car 100 includes asection that runs across the length of well car 100. This section may bea hollow tube structure that forms the top portion of side assembly 105.Top chord 110 may be made of metal, alloy, plastic, and/or anyappropriate material. In the example well car 100, top chord 110 islevel across the length of well car 100.

Laws and regulations limit the weight of well car 100 and its freightduring transport. The heavier well car 100 is without freight (alsoreferred to as the tare weight), the less freight it can carry beforehitting the weight limit. Additionally, the structure of well car 100may limit the amount of freight it can carry. For example, the heavierthe freight that is loaded into well car 100, the more the well car 100may deflect vertically towards the tracks. Laws and regulations limitthe amount of vertical deflection that can occur during transport.Therefore, the amount of vertical deflection allowed by the structure ofwell car 100 may limit the amount of freight that well car 100 cancarry.

This disclosure contemplates an improved well car design that increasesthe amount of freight that the well car can transport. The improveddesign includes side assemblies that have an elevated or humped portion.The improved design will be described using FIGS. 2A-2C and 3.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example well car 200. As shown in FIG. 2A, wellcar 200 includes a well floor 205, castings 225, two end portions 210,and two side assemblies 105. The two end portions 210 and the two sideassemblies 105 are coupled to the well floor 205. Each side assembly 105includes a top chord 110. Each side assembly 105 includes two sideportions 220 coupled to a humped portion 215. Each side portion 220 isalso coupled to an end portion 210. Each casting 225 is coupled to aside assembly 105. In the illustrated example of FIG. 2A, well car 200includes six castings 225 (not all illustrated) with three castings 225coupled to each side assembly 105. In particular embodiments, the designof well car 200 allows well car 200 to transport a greater amount offreight and/or weight than well car 100 at the same or lower tareweight.

As described previously, the tare weight of well car 200 (e.g., theweight of well car 200 with no freight loaded) limits the amount offreight that well car 200 can carry before reaching a weight limit setby laws and regulations. The more that the tare weight of well car 200can be reduced, the more freight it can carry before hitting the weightlimit. However, reducing the tare weight of well car 200 may affect thestructural strength of well car 200. In some instances, changing thestructure of well car 200 may reduce its ability to support heavyfreight thus limiting the amount of weight that well car 200 can safelytransport.

This disclosure contemplates an unconventional humped design for theside assemblies 105 of well car 200. The humped design provides greaterdepth to each side assembly 105, which improves the vertical supportprovided by the side assemblies. As a result, the thickness of certainportions of the side assemblies 105 (e.g., top chords 110) may bereduced without jeopardizing the structural integrity and support ofside assemblies 105. By reducing the thickness of certain components,such as top chord 110, the overall weight of side assembly 105 isreduced even though the hump design appears to increase the size of sideassembly 105. Reducing the weight of side assemblies 105 results in areduction in the tare weight of well car 200, which allows well car 200to carry more freight before reaching the weight limit set by laws andregulations.

Freight is loaded into well car 200 to rest on castings 225. Whenfreight is loaded into well car 200, the weight of the freight may causewell floor 205 to move closer to the track over which the well car 200is running. This movement is referred to as vertical deflection. Lawsand regulations effectively limit the amount of vertical deflection thatcan occur in a well car due to a specified minimum distance between thebottom of the car and the tops of the track's rails. Thus, if the weightof freight causes too much vertical deflection, the weight must bereduced or the well car will not be allowed to transport the freight.

The humped design of side assemblies 105 offers the additional advantageof reducing vertical deflections in well car 200. The humped designincreases the cross-sectional area of side assembly 105, like an arch ona bridge. As a result, the vertical support that side assembly 105provides to well car 200 and well floor 205 is improved. The improvedvertical support reduces the amount of vertical deflection that occursin well car 200 per unit of weight of freight loaded in well car 200.Thus, the amount of weight/freight that well car 200 can carry beforereaching or exceeding vertical deflection limits effectively set by lawsand regulations is also increased with the humped design.

Each side assembly 105 includes two side portions 220 coupled to ahumped portion 215. The side portions 220 couple to the end portions 210of well car 200. The humped portion 215 couples to the side portions220. The humped portion 215 runs across a midline of the side assembly105. Additionally, the humped portion 215 is elevated or positionedhigher than the side portions 220. As a result, the humped portion 215is elevated above the side portions 220. In some embodiments, thestructure of top chord 110 and humped portion 215 in well car 200 iscurved.

As a result of the structural improvement provided by the elevatedhumped portion 215, the overall weight of top chord 110 may be reduced.For example, top chord 110 may be a tube that runs along the top of sideassembly 105. When side assembly 105 includes elevated humped portion215, the tube may be made thinner when compared to the level top chord110 of well car 100. The thinner tube results in a weight reduction ofside assembly 105. By reducing the weight of side assembly 105, theweight of well car 200 is reduced. When the weight of well car 200 isreduced, more weight can be allotted to the freight that is carried bywell car 200. Thus, well car 200 is configured to transport more weightthan well car 100 with the same or less tare weight.

Elevated humped portion 215 also reduces the amount of verticaldeflection that occurs when freight is loaded into well car 200.Elevated humped portion 215 increases the cross-sectional area of sideassembly 105. Elevated humped portion 215 also creates an arch shape fortop chord 110 and side assembly 105. As a result, side assembly 105provides more vertical support for well car 200 which reduces the amountof vertical deflection that occurs in well car 200 when freight isloaded into well car 200.

Top chord 110 may be constructed in any appropriate manner. In certainembodiments, top chord 110 is a tube that is bent to form the humpeddesign. In some embodiments, top chord 110 is formed by welding multiplesections of tubes together. For example, top chord 110 may be formed byfirst bending two end tubes and then welding them to a straight, centertube to form the humped design. Top chord 110 forms a top surface ofside assembly 105. For example, top chord 110 forms a top surface ofside portions 220 and/or humped portion 215.

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the well car 200 of FIG. 2A. Asillustrated in FIG. 2B, side assembly 105 includes top chord 110. Sideassembly 105 includes two side portions 220 coupled to an elevatedhumped portion 215. The elevated humped portion 215 is positioned higherthan each side portion 220. Additionally, as seen in FIG. 2B, castings225 are coupled to side assembly 105. One casting 225 is coupled to eachside portion 220. Another casting 225 is coupled to humped portion 215.Each casting 225 is positioned near the well floor 205 of well car 200.Although shown for clarity, it may not necessarily be the case thatcastings 225 are visible on the exterior surface of side assembly 105.Freight being transported by well car 200 rests on castings 225.

As seen in FIG. 2B, humped portion 215 increases the cross-sectionalarea of side assembly 105 by creating an arched-shaped structure. Thisstructure provides additional support for the structure of well car 200such that well car 200 experiences less vertical deflection whentransporting freight. Additionally, the structure may reduce the weightof side assembly 105 and well car 200 so that well car 200 can transportadditional weight.

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view of well car 200 of FIG. 2A.As illustrated in FIG. 2C, well floor 205 is coupled to side assemblies105. Each side assembly 105 includes a top chord 110 at the top of sideassembly 105. Top chord 110 is a hollow tube. Although FIG. 2C showsside assembly 105 being orthogonal to well floor 205, this disclosurecontemplates side assembly 105 being slightly angled relative to wellfloor 205 such that it is substantially orthogonal to well floor 205(e.g., within five degrees of being orthogonal). This disclosurecontemplates the top chord 110 being curved or bent. Castings 225 arecoupled to side assemblies 105 near well floor 205. Freight beingtransported by well car 200 rests on castings 225.

When freight is loaded into well car 200, the freight will rest oncastings 225 and be supported laterally by side assemblies 105. Thehumped design of side assemblies 105 allow for the freight to be of agreater weight before well car 200 reaches weight limits and/or verticaldeflection limits set by laws and regulations. By being able totransport a greater weight of freight, well car 200 is more economicallyefficient and produces a greater economic return per use.

In some embodiments, well car 200 can couple via end portions 210 toother railcars (such as other well cars). In this manner, well car 200can pull or be pulled by other railcars to transport freight.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method 300 of forming the well car200 of FIG. 2A. In step 305, a side assembly is coupled to a well car.The first side assembly includes a first side portion, a second sideportion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first sideportion and the second side portion. The first humped portion crosses amidline of the first side assembly. The first humped portion is alsopositioned higher than the first and second side portions. The firstside portion is coupled to a first end portion coupled to the wellfloor. The second side portion is coupled to a second end portioncoupled to the well floor.

In step 310, a second side assembly is attached to the same well car.The second side assembly includes a third side portion, a fourth sideportion, and a second humped portion coupled between the third andfourth side portions. The second humped portion crosses a midline of thesecond top chord. The second humped portion is also positioned higherthan the third and fourth side portions. The third side portion iscoupled to the first end portion. The fourth side portion is coupled tothe second end portion. The second side assembly is parallel to thefirst side assembly.

Each top chord may be formed in any appropriate manner. For example, atop chord may be a tube that is bent to form a humped design. As anotherexample, a top chord may be formed by welding multiple tubes together.Each top chord may be attached to the well car assembly in anyappropriate manner. For example, each top chord may be coupled to theside assembly by welding or mechanically fastening (hucks, bolts etc.).

In particular embodiments, by performing method 300, the resulting wellcar can transport an increased amount of weight or freight beforereaching structural and/or weight limits set by laws and regulations.Additionally, the amount of vertical deflection for any given amount ofweight of freight is reduced per tare weight of the car, thus allowingthe resulting well car to transport an increased amount of weight orfreight before reaching vertical deflection limits set by laws andregulations.

Although several embodiments have been provided in the presentdisclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems andmethods might be embodied in many other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examplesare to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and theintention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example,the various elements or components may be combined or integrated inanother system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.

In addition, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described andillustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may becombined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, ormethods without departing from the spirit or scope of the presentdisclosure. Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directlycoupled or communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled orcommunicating through some interface, device, or intermediate componentwhether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples ofchanges, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilledin the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scopedisclosed herein.

To aid the Patent Office, and any readers of any patent issued on thisapplication in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants notethat they do not intend any of the appended claims to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112(f) as it exists on the date of filing hereof unless the words “meansfor” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A well car comprising: a well floor; a first endportion coupled to the well floor; a second end portion coupled to thewell floor; a first side assembly coupled to the well floor, the firstside assembly comprising a first side portion, a second side portion,and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second sideportions, the first side portion coupled to the first end portion, thesecond side portion coupled to the second end portion, the first humpedportion positioned higher than the first and second portions on thefirst side assembly.
 2. The well car of claim 1, further comprising asecond side assembly coupled to the well floor, the second side assemblycomprising a third side portion, a fourth side portion, and a secondhumped portion coupled between the third and fourth side portions, thethird side portion coupled to the first end portion, the fourth sideportion coupled to the second end portion, the second humped portionpositioned higher than the third and fourth portions on the second sideassembly, the second side assembly parallel to the first side assembly.3. The well car of claim 1, further comprising a first casting, a secondcasting, and a third casting, the first casting coupled to the firstside portion, the second casting coupled to the first humped portion,the third casting coupled to the second side portion, the first, second,and third castings configured to support freight.
 4. The well car ofclaim 1, wherein the first side assembly is substantially orthogonal tothe well floor.
 5. The well car of claim 1, wherein the first sideassembly further comprises a hollow tube that forms a top surface of thefirst side assembly.
 6. The well car of claim 5, wherein the hollow tubeforms a top surface of the first side portion, the second side portion,and the first humped portion.
 7. The well car of claim 5, wherein thehollow tube comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube, thefirst and third tubes welded to the second tube.
 8. A method comprising:coupling a first side assembly to a well floor of a well car, the firstside assembly comprising a first side portion, a second side portion,and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second sideportions, the first side portion coupled to a first end portion coupledto the well floor, the second side portion coupled to a second endportion coupled to the well floor, the first humped portion positionedhigher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly. 9.The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling a second sideassembly to the well floor, the second side assembly comprising a thirdside portion, a fourth side portion, and a second humped portion coupledbetween the third and fourth side portions, the third side portioncoupled to the first end portion, the fourth side portion coupled to thesecond end portion, the second humped portion positioned higher than thethird and fourth side portions, the second side assembly parallel to thefirst side assembly.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:coupling a first casting to the first side portion; coupling a secondcasting to the first humped portion; and coupling a third casting to thesecond side portion, the first, second, and third castings configured tosupport freight.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first sideassembly is substantially orthogonal to the well floor.
 12. The methodof claim 8, wherein the first side assembly further comprises a hollowtube that forms a top surface of the first side assembly.
 13. The methodof claim 12, wherein the hollow tube forms a top surface of the firstside portion, the second side portion, and the first humped portion. 14.The method of claim 12, wherein the hollow tube comprises a first tube,a second tube, and a third tube, the first and third tubes welded to thesecond tube.
 15. A system comprising: a railcar; and a well carconfigured to couple to the railcar, the well car comprising a wellfloor, a first end portion coupled to the well floor, a second endportion coupled to the well floor, a first side assembly coupled to thewell floor, and a second side assembly coupled to the well floor,wherein: the first side assembly comprises a first side portion, asecond side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between thefirst and second side portions; the first side portion coupled to thefirst end portion; the second side portion coupled to the second endportion; the first humped portion positioned higher than the first andsecond portions on the first side assembly; the second side assemblycomprising a third side portion, a fourth side portion, and a secondhumped portion coupled between the third and fourth side portions; thethird side portion coupled to the first end portion; the fourth sideportion coupled to the second end portion; the second humped portionpositioned higher than the third and fourth portions on the second sideassembly; and the second side assembly parallel to the first sideassembly.
 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a firstcasting, a second casting, and a third casting, the first castingcoupled to the first side portion, the second casting coupled to thefirst humped portion, the third casting coupled to the second sideportion, the first, second, and third castings configured to supportfreight.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first side assembly issubstantially orthogonal to the well floor.
 18. The system of claim 15,wherein the first side assembly further comprises a hollow tube thatforms a top surface of the first side assembly.
 19. The system of claim18, wherein the hollow tube forms a top surface of the first sideportion, the second side portion, and the first humped portion.
 20. Thesystem of claim 18, wherein the hollow tube comprises a first tube, asecond tube, and a third tube, the first and third tubes welded to thesecond tube.